Diners look to share mealtime with dogs

Published 1:00 am, Wednesday, June 7, 2006

BETHEL - Nick, a 3½-year-old German shepherd, goes everywhere with his owner, including a downtown coffee shop.

Sitting in the warm, midday sunshine, his owner,
Suzanne Vidor
, sipped a soda at a table outside Molten Java while Nick lay quietly beside her feet watching the world go by.

"He's a great dog," said Vidor, a 45-year-old nurse who lives in Bethel. "He's always with me."

Still, if Vidor ever wanted to take Nick with her into a restaurant, state law dictates the pooch remain outside. The only exceptions to the rule are dogs trained to guide the blind and other impaired people.

Florida had the same policy until last week, when Gov.
Jeb Bush
signed a bill allowing dogs into outside eateries.

"I think it's a wonderful idea as long as people understand a dog's limits," said Vidor. "Some dogs are better than others in public. It largely depends on their owners. I've always had dogs. I grew up with them."

An important part of the new Florida law is the change is not mandatory and restaurant owners have the final say in whether to participate.

Nonetheless, it means that dog owners can take their pets to restaurants with outdoor decks, patios or other al fresco eating areas.

Dog lover
Wendy Cahill
, owner of Molten Java, has long encouraged other owners to bring their pets to the sidewalk sitting area of her Greenwood Avenue business, where food is not served. Cahill even provides water for the animals.

"I think we're a little too strong about our dog rules," said Cahill. "I can understand why there may be some reasons for keeping dogs away from eating areas, but I don't think they would cause any serious problems."

"I think it's a great idea," said Toomey. "Bethel is a very dog-friendly town, so it's nice for people to be able to share their dogs with each other."

Toomey conceded there are hygiene and other issues involved in allowing dogs into food areas, but added, "sometimes dogs behave better than people."

In Danbury,
Tom Devine
, owner of Two Step's Downtown Grille and Ciao Cafe, which both have outdoor tables, expressed "serious reservations" about relaxing the law.

"Personally, I love dogs and have two of my own, but to take responsibility for other owners' dogs is a big undertaking," said Devine. "You don't really know how other patrons would be affected and that's the problem. Some people are afraid of dogs."

"If it's going to happen here, why not have a designated section where customers can take their dogs," said Mottola. "There are some people who don't want to have anything to do with dogs, but I think a couple of tables for customers with dogs in a special area would be a pretty cool thing. If there's a problem, you just don't do it."

Len Kain
, co-founder of the California-based Web site, DogFriendly.com, said many states already allow dogs into outside eating areas. He predicted more will join them as antiquated health laws are reviewed and updated.

"There's a trend these days for more people wanting to take their dogs out to restaurants," said Kain.

Florida's law was changed in the wake of a crackdown by local regulators on restaurants ignoring existing statutes. Some restaurants complained to legislators they were being threatened by fines.

Still, not everyone supported the bill.

"I just don't think people should eat with dogs," said
George Jones
, a dog owner and resident of Orlando. "That's disgusting."

Danbury public health inspector
Sue Zaborowski
is less optimistic about changes being made in Connecticut's laws, saying pets could be a hindrance in public eating places.

"I don't think it's going to happen in Connecticut," Zaborowski said this week. "It would be a long and tedious process to make changes within the public health code."